It Begins

Chapter Fourteen

“Eli?” I complained when he woke me up.

“Steven is here.” He explained, “Once we get off the train and the competition starts I’ll get you away from everybody and you can go back to sleep.”

“We both know that that won’t work.” I complained as I threw up.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Yeah.” I promised brushing my teeth. “I’m just nauseous.” I explained and he wrapped an arm around me leading me to Steven.

“Okay. I managed to get you some elastic bound shorts. That way if you gain baby weight in there you can still be comfortable.” Steven promised and I nodded knowing that there was no way I would gain any weight during this.

“Would you like to see Eli before we leave the train?” Steven asked after putting my hair in a braid and keeping my make-up simple. I nodded quickly and he left. “You don’t have long.” Steven told us a few minutes later but I just ran over into Eli’s arms and put my face in his chest.

“It will be okay.” Eli whispered.

“Actually…” Olivia whispered sadly walking in. “I did some research… Bree… you’re going to lose your babies.” She whispered softly.

“What… do you… mean?” I managed.

“Nobody knew you were a vampire yet. When a vampire body goes into something like this… the body will abort the baby in order to protect itself.”

“Eli…” I whispered through my sudden tears. He pulled me into his chest and held me close both of us knowing that even though this was private both Austin and Elizabeth would hear the new outcome of my baby tonight.

“We’ll try again.” He promised but suddenly we were separated.

“No.” I begged Olivia, “Please just let me have him.” Eli pulled away from his guard and moved back over to me holding me close and letting me hide in his chest.

“We’ll go into this together just like we’re going to come out of it.” Eli promised them and they just nodded giving us sympathetic looks. Eli pulled me through the portal keeping me in his arms and then we waited for the gunshot. “Let’s just get this over with.” Eli whispered in my ear.

“You find us shelter and water. I’ll go get the supplies. Nobody will want to get me. It hasn’t gotten out yet.” He took a deep breath but then nodded.

“Meet me due North.” He requested and I nodded. The gun went off then and we took off in opposite directions. I quickly took as many bags as I could hold and then I ran in the direction of Eli ignoring the tears that were falling from my eyes.

“Are you going to be okay?” Eli whispered stopping on his shelter and just wrapping his arms around me.

“I just have to stay busy.” I whispered pulling away and searching the bags. I separated them all into piles between food, medicine, weapons, and miscellaneous supplies. I put each different stack in a different bag but then opened the food and got out the only sweet thing we had.

“I don’t think you should do that yet.” Eli whispered.

“I just lost my babies.” I snapped, “I think I can handle a few cookies.” He flinched but nodded and wrapped me back up in his arms.

“We’ll get you through this.” He promised me and I just turned into him letting my tears go into his chest.

“I don’t want to be here.” I whispered to him, “I want to be home and preparing for our babies. I don’t want to lose them.” I begged him to understand.

“You did this for Elizabeth.” He reminded me, “You just have to concentrate on the fact that if you weren’t here she would be and…” He trailed off and then finished slowly, “… this way… is better for you.” He finally admitted and I looked up at him, “No matter what you would lose the babies. We both know that having Elizabeth in here would be more stressful on you than you being here is and so therefore… at least I get to be here for you during this…” I screamed in pain cutting him off and he covered my mouth quickly but we both heard the running.

“We want to protect her too.” The first, a male, said they were obviously all vampires and there were six of them.

“It’s been centuries since a vampire has conceived and even longer since a soul mate pair has.” The second, a girl, told us.

“We’re thinking allies.” The third, another girl, said as Eli kept his hand over my mouth trying to stifle my sobs that the screams had turned into.

“We know the doctor didn’t tell you because they want the hope gone before we can change it.” The fourth, a male, started. “Until her body decides that she can’t handle it the pregnancy will remain. The government doesn’t want this pregnancy and they hate you two as a couple.” I looked at him quickly understanding that he was telling us that I could still have our babies. “I don’t think your body will handle both babies. You will more than likely lose both.”

“We want to try to prevent that though.” The fifth, a male, told us. “I think that if we can keep her safe and completely out of harms way than her body will keep at least one of the babies. We have to make sure that she’s under the least amount of stress possible though.” He warned looking at us.

“Let us help.” The final one, another male, requested.

“You will help me protect her and my child?” Eli asked obviously already accepting them as he sat me down beside him and stood to greet them.

“I am Phillip from Champion. These are… Cally from Ayn… Chelsea from Rand… Simon from Stride… Ethan from Star… and Daniel from Bendville.”

“I’m Eli and this is Bree.” Eli explained taking Phillip’s hand but my eyes stayed on Daniel.

“What do you have against me?” Daniel asked me as we ate dinner. Cally and Chelsea had gone gathering with me while Eli and Simon had gone hunting. I had a bigger portion of the meal than anybody else but nobody would let me share.

“I don’t trust you.” I said simply, “Bendville should be with Bendville and Austen. That’s the way it’s done.”

“Yeah well Bendville and Austen aren’t exactly the nicest states for vampires to live in. They were all too willing to send me and all too unwillingly to team up with a vampire.”

“I still don’t trust you.” I shrugged but smiled as Eli pulled me into his side.

“Are you okay?” He whispered worriedly, “It’s been a long day.”

“I’m… well I’m better than I was when we walked in.” I promised slowly and he nodded.

“Can I check on the babies?” Ethan asked me and I just looked up. “Star.” He replied simply and I nodded knowing that he was highly qualified. As a citizen of Star he was expected to be at Mastery in every Science and then focus even more on another science. “I focus on inventing.” He told me, “But I am very well with medical.” Eli helped me up and led me behind the line of the trees.

“I trust them.” Eli said simply and so I nodded. “I even trust Daniel. I’m going to keep you with him as much as possible when I can’t be there to protect you.” He warned and I just frowned but reminded myself that I’d promised to do what he said so that he could protect me and the baby.

“I still hate him.” I warned and Eli smiled knowing I’d said it too low for anybody to hear.

“Both babies seem fine.” Ethan told me quietly, “There is no sign of any miscarriage yet.” I sighed some but refused to move just moving farther into Eli’s lap.

“Let’s get you inside the cave.” Eli nodded leading me into it.

“We’ll take turns with watch.” Simon was saying as Eli walked out. I got up and walked outside.

“Go back to bed.” Eli told me.

“No. I want to know what shift I will be taking.”

“None.” Eli warned. “I’ll take both of ours.”

“You’ll need sleep.”

“I’ll survive. Our child might not.” He warned and I felt a tear start to fall so I got up and walked out of the camp. I was surprised when nobody followed me but I didn’t argue because I needed to be alone. When I heard the footsteps behind me I took cover. Ethan took me quickly and along with Daniel they pulled me back to camp and through a hole just as authorities started to arrive. I started to scream unable to see Eli but then I found myself unconscious.